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St Michaels embraces Small Craft Festival Oct. 3-5

Throughout the waterfront town of St. Michaels, Md., the art of “small craft” will be celebrated among boutiques, galleries and restaurants in connection with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s 32nd annual Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival, which takes place October 3-5.

St Michaels Small Craft FestivalThe festival brings a collection of small craft to the museum’s Miles River waterfront, along with live music, scenic river cruises, food, beverages, and more.

“While we’re exhibiting and celebrating the best of small watercraft along our campus, we thought our guests would appreciate an extension of the experience throughout historic St. Michaels’ unique shops, galleries and fine restaurants,” said CBMM President Kristen Greenaway. “Now, festival-goers and all those visiting St. Michaels can stroll through town and experience small crafts in a number of ways.”

During the October 3-5 festival, local restaurants will feature signature small plate and seafood-themed dishes. Several of St. Michaels’ boutiques and galleries will also be offering locally made hand-crafted items as well as other weekend specials. Samplings of locally made, small batch rum, beer and wine will be offered at St. Michaels’ historic Mill as part of the weekend celebration.

“The St. Michaels business community is excited to collaborate with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum during their annual festivals and events,” said St. Michaels Business Association Secretary and shop owner Kim Hannon. “The opportunity to showcase the entire town while offering our residents and visitors an amazing experience is our ultimate goal.”

At the museum, sailing skiffs, rowing shells, kayaks, canoes, paddleboats, prams and other one-of-a-kind boats will be in the water and on land for its Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival. Many will be accompanied by owners sharing their boating knowledge and experiences with festival-goers.

Beginning at noon on Saturday, the Royal Oak Musicians will perform live from CBMM’s Tolchester Beach Bandstand. On Saturday, festival-goers can also watch a small craft race on the Miles River beginning at 1 p.m. Voting will be held to determine what boat receives the People’s Choice award, amongst others.

Scenic Miles River cruises aboard the museum’s 1920 buyboat Winnie Estelle will be offered throughout the two-day festival, with other passenger boats along St. Michaels’ harbor also offering rides. Boat-building workshops and maritime demonstrations by CBMM’s boatyard staff and Chesapeake Wooden Boat Builders School instructors are also being offered.

The Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival is free for museum members and children under six, otherwise admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students with ID, and $6 for children ages 6 to 17, with all museum exhibits included in admission. For safety reasons, dogs need to be kept home during Museum festivals and special events. Leashed dogs are only permitted on the museum’s campus during regular operating hours. For more information, visit www.cbmm.org/mascf or call 410-745-2916.